The legal notices of a website are based on a legal framework that has significantly changed since 2024. The SREN law has redistributed the reference articles in the LCEN, and a new recodification in the Consumer Code is planned for e-commerce sites. What information is actually required according to the legal status of the publisher, and what recent developments are changing the landscape for sites published in 2025 and beyond?
LCEN after the SREN law: what has changed in the numbering of obligations
The majority of online guides continue to refer to the old article 6 of the LCEN to establish the obligation to identify the publisher, the publication director, and the host. Since the entry into force of the law n° 2024-449 known as the SREN law on May 23, 2024, these obligations are codified in article 1-1 of the LCEN, and the sanctions are now included in article 1-2.
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This shift is not just a detail for lawyers. A site that cites article 6 in its own legal notice page displays an outdated reference, which can pose a credibility issue in the event of a check or dispute. The legal notices must refer to the texts in force, not to renumbered provisions.
To observe how a legal notice page structures these references in practice, the legal notices of Lordy’s provide a concrete example of formatting on a publishing site.
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Another change to anticipate: e-commerce sites will see the obligations for merchant identification (currently in article 19 of the LCEN) transferred to the Consumer Code starting September 1, 2026. The obligation remains the same; only the reference text changes, as part of the adaptation to the DSA and the SREN law.
Mandatory legal notices: comparative table for individuals and legal entities
The information to be displayed varies depending on whether the publisher of the site is an individual entrepreneur or a company. The table below summarizes the current requirements.
| Required Information | Individual (EI, micro-enterprise) | Legal Entity (company) |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Name, first name, and mention “individual entrepreneur” or “EI” (article R.526-27 of the Commercial Code, in force since May 15, 2022) | Company name, legal form, amount of share capital |
| Contact Information | Home address, email address, phone number | Registered office address, email address, phone number |
| Registration Number | Registration number with the RCS or RNE | Registration number with the RCS or RNE |
| VAT Number | If subject to VAT | Mandatory |
| Publication Director | Name of the responsible person | Name of the responsible person |
| Host | Name, company name, address, and phone number | Name, company name, address, and phone number |
A point often overlooked: since May 2022, the mention “individual entrepreneur” or “EI” is mandatory for any individual entrepreneur, including micro-entrepreneurs. Its absence in the legal notices constitutes a regulatory breach based on article R.526-27 of the Commercial Code.
Personal data and cookies: the GDPR aspect of legal notices
The legal notices do not only concern the identification of the publisher. Any site that collects personal data (contact form, newsletter, user account) must inform visitors on several points related to the GDPR.
- The purposes of the collection: why the site collects this data (order management, marketing, traffic statistics)
- The legal basis for processing: consent, performance of a contract, or legitimate interest as applicable
- The recipients of the data: subcontractors, partners, or internal services that access it
- The retention period and the user’s rights (access, rectification, deletion, portability)
Regarding cookies, the regulations require free and informed consent before any non-essential tracker is placed on the site. The cookie banner must allow refusal as easily as acceptance. Audience measurement cookies may benefit from a consent exemption under certain conditions, but this does not exempt the obligation to inform the user of their existence.
Regulated activities: additional notices not to forget
Some professions add layers of specific information. A site published by a health professional, a lawyer, or a real estate agent must mention the authority that granted the exercise authorization, as well as the applicable professional rules. E-commerce sites must display the general terms and conditions of sale, withdrawal procedures, and the competent consumer mediator.
Sanctions for absence of legal notices on a website
The new article 1-2 of the LCEN provides for sanctions of up to one year in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros for individuals who do not comply with identification obligations. For legal entities, the fine can be quintupled.
In practice, criminal prosecutions remain rare for a simple lack of legal notices. However, the absence of this information weakens the publisher’s position in the event of commercial litigation or a consumer complaint. A competitor may also invoke unfair competition if a site deliberately omits its identification notices.
Beyond the legal risk, a site lacking legal notices sends a negative signal to visitors. The transparency of the publisher conditions the user’s trust, especially on sites that offer transactions or collect sensitive data.
Updating legal references (transition from article 6 to article 1-1 of the LCEN, anticipation of the transfer to the Consumer Code for e-merchants) represents a maintenance task that is often underestimated. Checking the compliance of one’s legal notice page at least once a year, particularly after each sector reform, remains the most reliable way to avoid a gap between the displayed text and the applicable law.